Homemade tap

**Cascao** · Mar 23, 2018, 10:13 AM

Made a tap from O1 steel using the lathe and angle grinder.
Heated it red and quenched in oil, tempered blue 2 times and saved a expensive radiator.

You should give O1 steel a try. Saved a lot from buying a special tap for using once and learned one or two things.

**Ralphxyz** · Mar 23, 2018, 05:55 PM

Now that is cool, so first you sized the 01 steel then threaded it and then cut the grooves with you angle grinder then ran it through a heat treat process.

Sounds easy enough.

Ralph

**Cascao** · Mar 23, 2018, 08:16 PM

yes easy and very cheap

**JRock** · Mar 23, 2018, 11:30 PM

Thanks! Something I need to do, but was hemming and hawing (just an hour ago!) about it.
Awesome!

**DIYer** · Mar 24, 2018, 07:19 AM

Thanks Cascao! We've added your Tap to our Tapping and Threading category,
as well as to your builder page: Cascao's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Tap by Cascao

tags: tapping

**Cascao** · Apr 18, 2018, 10:15 AM

**Toolmaker51** · Aug 8, 2018, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by Cascao

Made a tap from O1 steel using the lathe and angle grinder.
Heated it red and quenched in oil, tempered blue 2 times and saved a expensive radiator.
You should give O1 steel a try. Saved a lot from buying a special tap for using once and learned one or two things.

Ah yes O1. No matter who sells it; probably most universal, likely best machinability, very reliable heat treat/ temper process, grinds fabulous, comparatively not expensive...do I sound like a fan? There are related grades 01,02, 06 Graphitic that can perform many tool and die jobs when higher expense materials aren't warranted [usually production rates]. Another unsung tool steel is W-series. 'O' signifies Oil Hardening. 'W' signifies Water Hardening. Also a great choice for same reasons, a bit less expensive. Good for operative parts like collets, knives and many more.